KitchenAid – Branded Environment Graphics

↑ Final Environment Design Concept

↓ Final Environmental Design Environment

↓ Video: KitchenAid Environment Walkthrough

↓ Details: KitchenAid Brand Illustrative & Product Narratives

Client Project

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KitchenAid – Branded Environment Graphics
For the second consecutive year, we partnered with KitchenAid, a leader in the consumer kitchen countertop appliance sector, to translate and design their updated brand story with supporting environmental visuals and products for their annual directors’ meeting.

At this year’s meeting, KitchenAid was showcased, and we developed visuals for their updated brand messaging into an illustrative, product-focused walkthrough leading into a beautifully designed kitchen environment, highlighting their most innovative products to investors.

After meetings and a review of their brand messaging and requirements, we deconstructed each brand pillar and translated them into five distinct narratives to bring the “Do It With Me” ethos to life. Each story highlighted households preparing meals, showcasing the interaction of illustrated people with KitchenAid’s countertop appliances, cookware, and utensils in action. These narratives were then seamlessly integrated into a sixth narrative, creating a cohesive story that illustrates how KitchenAid plays a central role in bringing people together, supporting families in food preparation, and fostering meaningful experiences in the kitchen.

The final installation was a seamless blend of clean, minimalist line illustrations paired with physical KitchenAid products, effectively demonstrating how the brand serves as an ‘aid’ in everyday cooking routines. The result was a visually captivating environment that embodied KitchenAid’s brand principles and brought their message to life. This project was a collaborative effort, with the KitchenAid product and CMF teams. Concept sketches where done by Jody Williams.

 

  • KitchenAid
    Consumer Countertop Appliances

  • Branded Environment Graphics

  • + Concept Development
    + Design/Art Direction
    + Illustration 
    + Narrative Storytelling
    + Print Management
    + Qualitative Research

Carbon Cycle

Client Project
February 2023

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Carbon Cycle
Creating and illustrating a carbon cycle infographic for a major producer of sustainable lumber, pulp, and paper. Our task was to clearly communicate the client's approach to combating climate change while showcasing their strong commitment to environmental sustainability.

The goal was to streamline a complex sustainability concept, making it visually captivating and ensuring the audience was able to comprehend the initiative. The final infographic was simple and friendly, conveying the client’s message of responsible environmental stewardship and dedication to a greener, more sustainable future.

  • + Infographic

  • + Research
    + Concept Development
    + Sketching & Ideation
    + Illustration
    + Design & Layout

  • This project was a collaborative effort, with Peopledesign providing Art Direction.

KitchenAid – Packaging Design System

 

Client Project

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KitchenAid – Packaging Design System
We were hired by KitchenAid to collaborate with their team of designers, engineers, photographers, and food stylists to define, develop, and design innovative packaging concepts for their award winning appliance products.

When KitchenAid approached me, they weren’t just looking to refresh their packaging—they were looking to reimagine how their iconic products could better connect to consumers, stand out on store shelves alongside competing brands, and reflect the modern, design-forward brand they had become. At the same time, they wanted to ensure that any evolution stayed rooted in the heritage that made KitchenAid a household name—especially with their globally recognized stand mixer.

Building on research and consumer insights from the first phase, we developed a clear design strategy to guide multiple packaging concepts—showcasing KitchenAid’s products as innovative, high-quality, and reinforcing the brand’s position as a leader in kitchen appliances.

When we audited the existing packaging, it became evident that it no longer reflected the expectations of today’s consumers or the evolution of KitchenAid’s products. In a market moving toward bold simplicity, clean visual storytelling, and modern minimalism, the packaging appeared dark, cluttered, and outdated.

The design challenge was clear—reimagine the packaging in a way that honored KitchenAid’s heritage, spoke directly to today’s consumers, and embraced a modern visual language. To support this evolution, we also conceptualized a modern iconography language and illustrative system that could seamlessly integrate across the new packaging.

Working closely with the internal KitchenAid team, we began by diving into consumer insights, packaging trends, and design systems across related industries while also bringing our own creative perspective to the process. From this research, we developed a series of concepts built on a refined visual language that combined bespoke product illustrations with photography to drive storytelling, supported by iconography, color, and typography. All of this was organized within a thoughtful packaging system that could extend across product lines and packaging sizes, reinforcing the brand while prioritizing clarity and consumer engagement.

The final result was a flexible, strategic packaging system that scaled across all products—unmistakably KitchenAid, while reinforcing the brand and putting clarity and consumer engagement at the forefront.

This project came to life through a true cross-disciplinary partnership. Designers, packaging engineers, photographers, and CMF teams each brought their own craft, perspective, and problem-solving to the table—layering ideas, refining details, and ultimately shaping the final packaging concepts together.

↑ Original KitchenAid Packaging

 

  • KitchenAid
    Kitchen Appliance Manufacturing

  • Product Packaging System Design

  • + Branded Iconography
    + Communication Design
    + Concept Development
    + Consumer & Trend Research
    + Iconography System Design
    + Instructional Illustration
    + Photoshop & Physical Mock-ups
    + Product Research
    + Qualitative Research

Horse & Flag Process

Article + Creative Musing
November 2018

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Horse & Flag Process
The above video shows my streamlined process for crafting icon and illustrations. This is the same phased process that I use for large design projects albeit condensed to focus on a single artifact. While some may perceive this work as straightforward, it actually demands meticulous attention to detail and draws upon thorough research to effectively sketch, ideate, and achieve visual harmony, alignment, and readability.

 

SpartanNash – Corporate Responsibility Report

Client Project

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SpartanNash – Corporate Responsibility Report
Hired by SpartanNash, I collaborated with their marketing team to direct, develop, and design a 36-page corporate responsibility report. Headquartered in Michigan, SpartanNash is the largest food distributor in the U.S., serving independent grocers, military commissaries, and corporate-owned retail stores across 44 states.

Serving as design director, I led the process to the development and design of the report, highlighting SpartanNash’s core values, diverse capabilities, community engagement, and commitment to environmental responsibility through a strategic combination of copy, visuals, design, and infographics.

Following a guided design process, I reviewed and analyzed SpartanNash’s areas of social and environmental responsibility, shaping each section to tell the story of their sustainable journey. By integrating storytelling with design, we connected their core values, capabilities, and community efforts into a cohesive narrative.

The final brochure brought SpartanNash’s story to life, combining compelling visuals, informative infographics, and clear, engaging design to communicate their achievements and initiatives. Serving as both a visually engaging and practical reference, it reinforced the company’s commitment to sustainability, community, and corporate responsibility, resulting in a comprehensive and impactful sustainability report.

 

  • SpartanNash
    Food Wholesale & Retail Grocer

  • Corporate Responsibility Report

  • + Communication Design
    + Concept Development
    + Illustrative Storytelling
    + Product Research
    + Pagination Desgin
    + Qualitative Research
    + Sketching & Ideation
    + Visual Identity System

Religion & Liberty – Rebrand & Magazine System Design

Client Project

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Religion & Liberty – Rebrand & Magazine System Design
We helped Religion & Liberty magazine rebrand and develop a comprehensive system design for the Acton Institute’s quarterly publication. This six-month initiative focused on modernizing the magazine while establishing a flexible and cohesive framework to guide future issues.

This project began with a full evaluation of the magazine’s existing structure, visual language, and editorial needs. Through extensive planning, research, and collaboration with Acton’s editorial team, we identified opportunities to improve clarity, storytelling, and brand alignment while creating a system flexible enough to support a wide range of content.

The redesign process included an audit of past issues, editorial content analysis, typographic and grid exploration, and the development of a refreshed visual tone—spanning layout structure, photography and illustration direction, color refinement, and cover design. The result was a comprehensive editorial system built around forty distinct layout templates.

To support long-term consistency, a detailed design and layout toolkit was created, equipping the internal team with clear guidelines for typography, spacing, imagery, recurring features, and decision-making. The outcome delivered a magazine that feels contemporary, readable, and distinctly aligned with the Religion & Liberty vision—while significantly improving workflow efficiency for their editorial staff.

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View the Design System Templates, created to streamline layouts and ensure a consistent visual narrative for future issues.

“It’s rare to come across someone as talented and easy to work with as Michael. We hired Michael to redesign one of our most important publications, Religion & Liberty. The project was incredibly difficult from the start as we didn’t have a clear picture of what we were looking for. Michael was extremely patient and methodical, working closely with us, so we could come up with a concrete plan of execution together. He took special care to understand the needs of the organization as well as the readers, so the final product would be ideal for all audiences. He created a polished publication that holds its own against mainstream magazines.”

Sarah Stanley
Managing Editor, Acton Institute

 

  • Religion & Liberty (Acton Institute)
    Non-Profit Think Tank

  • Brand Identity & Magazine System Design

  • + Brand Advisor
    + Brand Indentity
    + Communication Design
    + Concept Development
    + Design Direction
    + Publication Design
    + Illustration & Photo Art Direction
    + Qualitative Research

Turnstone Brand Identity & Design System Collateral

Client Project (via Designvox)
2006 to 2009

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Turnstone Brand Identity & Design System Collateral
Following a series of internal shifts, Turnstone found their brand outdated and disconnected from their customer base. A relevant change was needed to resonate with the emerging demands of smaller businesses and startups. Equally important was to show that their products could grow with them and still have the quality and longevity as other furniture brands in the industry. I was a member of the design team responsible for creating a revitalized brand and integrating the new brand across various communication channels, including advertising, product catalogs, brochures, and website improvements.

  • + Brand Identity & Design Materials

  • + Research
    + Concept Development
    + Sketching & Ideation
    + Brand Development
    + Packaging Design
    + Catalog Cover Design and Layout
    + Design and Ideation
    + Illustration

  • This brand project and design system collateral was completed while employed at Designvox.